Stacey Roberts PT, RN, MSN is an expert on shockwave therapy. Since 2020, Stacey Roberts has been analyzing shockwave research extensively to develop clear and concise therapeutic applications in the rehabilitation setting for pelvic health, sexual health, and muscular-skeletal patients. She is finding extraordinary results with her patients using this modality in her cash-based practice. Stacey joined the Herman & Wallace faculty in 2021 with her course Shockwave Treatment: Therapeutic Interventions in Pelvic Health & Demystifying the Research.

Below Stacey provides some FAQs and answers to the most commonly asked questions about shockwave therapy.

What is a Shockwave?
A shockwave is an interesting phenomenon and can be both natural and manmade. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines a shockwave as "a strong pressure wave in an elastic medium such as air, water, or a solid substance, produced by supersonic aircraft, explosions, lightning, or other phenomena that create significant changes in pressure.”

If you’ve spent any time on social media as a healthcare practitioner, you’ve probably encountered a flood of ads promoting shockwave therapy as a miracle solution for everything from orthopedic pain to urological and gynecological conditions. The marketing push for these devices has skyrocketed over the past five years, driven by claims of its ability to treat a wide range of diagnoses. Recent research, including a comprehensive review published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine, confirms that shockwave therapy is making significant waves in modern medicine. But with all the buzz surrounding this technology, the real question remains: is it truly a game changer for patients and clinics alike?

As a medical professional, my approach to any new treatment, procedure, or modality begins with skepticism. I believe it is my responsibility to ensure that the interventions I offer in my clinic are grounded in solid research, and proven efficacy. When I first encountered shockwave therapy in early 2020, I was highly skeptical. The companies I spoke with made sweeping claims, portraying shockwave therapy as a universal solution for virtually every condition. Despite their promises, I remained cautious. However, after hearing positive feedback from a few trusted colleagues and witnessing a session that yielded seemingly impressive results, I decided to delve deeper into the research.

I found that while there is a substantial amount of literature available, much of it is confusing and, it lacks clarity — especially in the area of pelvic health. The majority of the research outside of orthopedics focuses on conditions such as erectile dysfunction, with little attention given to men’s pelvic health concerns and even less given to women’s pelvic health issues.